Friday, January 28, 2011

So, our learning theme for the week last month has been Winter. We have learned about snow, ice, icicles, hibernating animals, and winter clothing. I have been a MAJOR slacker these past few weeks with Christmas and vacation and just general laziness. Sad to say but our book reading has been minimal along with everything else. However, we have managed to read a few books and complete a few activities/projects.
Our books for the Winter theme:
Animals in Winter
Snow Day First Snow
Sugar Snow
The Snow Lambs
Marven of the Great North Woods
When Winter Comes
Callie Cat, Ice Skater
and more of course.
My favorite is Sugar Snow :), and R's is First Snow. The illustrations in First Snow are phenomenal. The look so lifelike and I think that's why R likes the book so much.
Our activities have included making model magic snowmen, painting with ice cubes w/ food coloring added, melting ice with salt, epsom salt painting, coloring snow men, snow pictures (shaving cream with glue), playing outside with our gloves/mittens and scarves on and if you count Christmas-playing in the snow and with icicles.
Hopefully we will get back on schedule this next month and I won't be so lazy.

Okay, I'm not one of the majorly green or thrifty/frugal kind of people but I was a bit suprised by the sheer amount of products/chemicals I use in a day-heck just in the morning.Just this morning I used body wash, soap, face cleanser/scrub, shampoo, conditioner, defrizz/smoothing lotion, deodarant, hairspray, lotion, and toothpaste. All I can say is Oh My Gosh-that is RIDICULOUS. Oh I forgot I put on powder foundation, lip balm and gloss, perfume and have used hand sanitizer already today.So, how to reduce all this? I'm not completely sure...I like products :) Just ask the hubby.I am in the process of convincing the hubby to go to DIY laundry detergent and fabric softener-not sure I will have much success with giving up even more conveniences. I try to use baking soda for cleaning when possible but must admit I like soft scrub, spic and span, and scrubbing bubbles. AND the idea of vinegar for cleaning seems so icky to me, I hate hate hate the smell of vinegar. OK, done with my random post. Will update on my changes, IF I make any.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Since I turned 40 (GASP) last month-I decided to come up with 40 things to accomplish this year in lieu of "resolutions".
So here it goes...........1) Add pictures to at least every third blog entry2) Take more pictures (or have hubby do it) of R and I's art/craft/learning activities3) Make R 2 hooded towels4) Make at least 5 hairbows or hair accesories for R-4 down 1 to go5) Make a hairbow holder for R from old frame6) Put flowers on my Mom's grave-It's been almost a year and I still haven't been. Not sure when I will actually be ready, if ever, but I think I should be able to before the year is out.-as of 4/5 I've made the arrangement7) Plant my little garden by mid March this year.8) Lose 10 pounds (and keep it off)9) Apply for my CAP10) Attend at least 1 conference in Substance Abuse field-sent the check off on 3/4, conference is later in March-DONE11) Write my Dad (or send a card) once per month-done for Jan and Feb12) Blog post about my dreams/hopes for R-completed 3/0313) Complete 6 scrapbook pages of R's pictures14) Send homemade snacks to Dad x 215) Have 3 freezer cooking days 16) Trip to Atlanta aquarium17) See Rock City :)18) Plant sunflowers-4/3, in peat pots19) Get family pictures done20) Make personalized onesie for Brayden-my great nephew21) Sew 4 pillowcases22) Use a menu planner at least 2 weeks per month23) 1 crockpot meal per month24) Work the spring consignment sale-done25) "applique" two shirts for R for spring26) Bake some bread-not from a mix-done, made a honey wheat but awfully dense, not light and airy27) Read a book just for entertainment28) Tie dye something with R29) Go on a date with the hubby30) Paint our bedroom

31) OKAY, I'm stuck so I'll list 10 more later :)

I plan on making myself accountable on some of these by blogging about the finished product, result, trip, etc :)

Monday, January 10, 2011

Our trip to Maggie Valley, North Carolina for Christmas was wonderful. I'm a tiny bit dissapointed we didn't get to go to Grove Park Inn or to see the elk but hey it SNOWED on Christmas Day.
We rented a lovely house on the side of a mountain for our trip. We had 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 living areas, and 3 decks-turned out to be way more than we needed but we will know for next time. The road and driveway to the house was scary-even without snow and ice. I will definitely need some driving practice when we move. I was too scared to leave the house :(
We checked out dowtown Waynesville, went to Mingo Falls and a park beside the river in Cherokee, and explored a few shops in Maggie Valley before being snowed in. The view of Mingo Falls was spectacular but getting all 4 of us up there was SCARY. Think ice and snow and wet slippery ground with no handrails or anything to stop a fall. The falls were beautiful and the icicles majestic. So glad we braved the less than stellar conditions to see it. Little R's reaction was priceless. She kept saying "that's ALOT of water" and insisted on eating every icicle she could find..even those w/ leaves and pinestraw ...eeewwww.